Plateau State Governor, Mr Simon Lalong.
By M. Peter, Jos
Residents of Jol community, Riyom local government area of Plateau State are counting their losses as they narrate how herders invaded a mining site they were working in, attacking them with dangerous weapons and leaving nine people injured.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, even as a traditional ruler, Da Bulus Janka was murdered at his residence at Rasat in Foron district of Barkin Ladi local government area on Monday night.
There have been resumed hostilities in some communities especially in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of the State.
Wife of the slain monarch, Chundung, 52, a mother of five narrated how her husband was killed saying, “We were watching TV together at about 7:30pm, when suddenly our electric generator stopped running, and a call came to his mobile phone. Our village has weak mobile signal due to poor network coverage. For clear reception therefore, we often go to the backyard to make calls.
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“When he went out to get clear reception, the next thing I heard was him yelling. My son and I rushed out towards him and saw people dressed like herdsmen hacking him with machetes on the ground. When they saw us, they started shooting at us, and we had to run for our lives.
“From my hideout, I could see them brutally chopping the life out of my husband but I was helpless, because I had nothing to fight them back. But I really felt butchered in my heart, and up to this moment I still see their machetes dropping on him, while he yells helplessly on the ground,”
The State Governor, Simon Lalong is piqued by the development as he has been working to ensure a peaceful State and in the latest incident, has asked security agents to fish out the perpetrators of the act as according to a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, “The days of unknown gunmen is over as innocent people cannot be killed without anybody being apprehended and put to trial.”
The mining incident, Solomon Mandiks who works with local people in distressed communities told this medium that a distressed call was received from Neighborhood Watch of Jol Community, that a group of Fulani militias invaded the local mining site at about 11:03am of 23rd September and security agents were contacted for possible intervention.
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He noted, “upon visiting to the scene, nine persons, namely: Mrs. Na’omi Joshua (widow) age 38, James Musa, 32, Alpha Pam, 24, Joshua Bwede, 40, Richard Chong, 22, Davou Darian, 35, Darwang Gyang, 30, Timothy Dachollom, 28 and Dachung Gambous, 51 sustained varying degrees of injuries and admitted at Primary Health Centre of Jol for medical attention.”
It was gathered that the attackers have warned the natives to stay away from the area saying, “their (attackers) permission was not sought before extending mining activities to the area” which they claim is “a conquered land where no one should ever mine thereon unless with their permission.”
A resident, Dachung Gambo, noted such order should not be given on their ancestral land as “our land is our inheritance and would not be shared with Fulani just as their cows are theirs and we have never asked them for a share. They keep expanding land grabbed in Jol with no action taken by relevant authorities to restore our lands.”
Joshua Adamu, councillor representing the community who condemned the attack called for calm, recalling that the said land in question was under natives’ cultivation prior to terror invasions by the Fulani.
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Management Committee Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Mafeng Gwalson also condemned the incident and applauded the Nigerian Police and personnel of the Operation Safe Haven for their swift action in arresting the situation from degenerating.
He said, “In the past two weeks, we have had people who have intentionally tried to return the local government back to crisis period by destroying crops in the farm. It has happened in Jol, Kwi, Wereng, Sopp and in Tahoss community. Also, on Wednesday, some miners went to the field for mining and were attack by some Fulani youths who told them not to mine that the area is their cattle route.
“I appeal to our people to be calm and support what the security agencies are doing and I am sure that we will get the perpetrators and take them to court to get justice,” stressing efforts are on ground to recover the about 53 villages that were sacked and the people displaced as a result of the 2001 Jos crises.
“Last week, we had a lot of people whose farms have been grazed mischievously by cows and others where they intentionally used daggers to bring down crops that are almost at the point of harvest. We have put in place the machinery to ensure justice is secured for those people. We have called leaders across the divides to ensure those whose crops were destroyed get fair compensation and to ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences.”
“As we speak, most of those cases are in court, a big thanks to the Nigeria Police, Operation Safe Haven, vigilante and leaders of the affected communities for their peaceful role.”
“Riyom has always been a peaceful local government until sometimes in 2001 when the effect of Jos crises affected the area. Since then we have not gotten ourselves back with over 53 villages sacked, thousands of people left their homes and a lot of destruction of corps and properties.”
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He added, “We are working to make the communities a better place to help in retuning those who fled their homes as a result of the violence. Between 2019 and 2020, there have been intentional efforts by merchants of crises to bring the local government back to crisis period but we are working round the clock to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“Last week, we had a lot of people whose farms have been grazed mischievously by cows and others where they intentionally used daggers to bring down crops that are almost at the point of harvest.
“We have put in place the machinery to ensure justice is secured for those people. We have called leaders across the divides to ensure those whose crops were destroyed get fair compensation and to ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences.”
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